Nichols College Athletics

Parker Burgess begins his sixth season as men’s ice hockey head coach at Nichols College in 2020-21.

Since arriving in Dudley, the Bison own a record of 73-51-13 (.580) and have advanced to the conference semifinals four times, winning the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship in 2017-18. Ten different student-athletes have earned all-conference honors under Burgess’ watch, including three last season: J.B. Baker (CCC Second Team), Curtis Carlson (CCC Third Team), and Curtis Carlson (CCC Third Team). Additionally, Tyler Beasley was named Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Year in 205-16 while Baker took home Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Rookie of the Year honors in 2016-17.

Many of Burgess’ student-athletes have moved on to play professionally, most recently Baker (Knoxville Ice Bears, SPHL), Hogan Davidson (Huntsville Hitmen, SPHL), and David Chevrier (Elephants de Chambery, FFHG Division I in France). At the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign, defenseman Ben Campbell and T.J. Roche signed with the Evansville Thunderbolts of the SPHL.

The 2019-20 edition of the Nichols College men’s hockey team overcame an 0-9-0 start to earn points on 12 straight contests (10-0-2) and quality for the CCC playoffs. The fifth-seeded Bison went on to upset Salve Regina University, 5-4 in overtime in Portsmouth, R.I. and nearly took down eventual champion Endicott in the semifinals, falling 3-2 in overtime.

Nichols experienced the most successful season in school history in 2017-18, when it posted an 18-9-3 mark, won its first-ever CCC Championship, and picked up the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. After defeating St. Thomas (MN) and Elmira to win the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational and defeating the No. 2 ranked team in the country (Endicott) shortly thereafter, the Bison secured the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. They then went on the road to defeat No. 4 seed Curry (4-3), No. 1 seed Salve Regina (5-4), and No. 3 seed UNE (8-3) to capture their third conference crown in five years. As a result, Nichols was selected to host an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in program history, where it defeated Fitchburg State 3-1 to advance to the quarterfinal round.  

The Bison posted a 15-7-5 mark and advanced to the conference semifinals for the sixth-straight season in 2016-17. Four student-athletes were honored by the conference with postseason awards while 11 earned CCC Academic All-Conference honors. January, 2017 marked the debut of the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational, which was hosted by NC and played at Warrior Ice Arena, the new practice home of the NHL’s Boston Bruins.

In Burgess’ first season behind the bench at Nichols, the Bison advanced to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast Semifinals for the fourth-straight season. The Bison ripped off a program-best 10-game winning streak (Nov. 4 – Dec. 8) and climbed as high as No. 13 in both the D3hockey.com (Nov. 30) and USCHO (Nov. 30 & Dec. 7) poll. Two of his student-athletes –Beasley and Butler – were named to the ECAC Northeast First Team; both signed professional contracts following the season. A total of 16 student-athletes were named to the ECAC Northeast Academic All-Conference Team while the team compiled a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.4

Named the 18th men's ice hockey head coach in Nichols College history on July 28, 2015, Burgess spent the previous five seasons at the University of St. Thomas, first as an assistant coach (2010-13) before being elevated to associate head coach in 2013. The Tommies posted a combined mark of 82-38-12 (.667 winning pct.) with Burgess on staff and made a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament (2011-12; 2013-14).

He recruited and coached the 2014-15 NCAA Division III National Player of the Year (Drew Fielding) as well as two Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Players of the Year, five All-America selections, 18 all-conference student-athletes, six MIAC All-Rookie Team picks, and one Academic All-America. Last season, St. Thomas saw five student-athletes named to the Academic All-MIAC Team.
 
Burgess’ duties at St. Thomas included coaching the forwards and matching lines during games, coaching the top power play and penalty kill units, developing a team system, working with the analytic statistician, breaking down game video and practice footage, scheduling, and marketing the program’s golf tournament.
 
As an assistant coach at St. Thomas, Burgess was the head recruiter, scouting the USHL, NAHL, BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, OJHL, EJHL, and Minnesota High Schools. He built relationships and networks with players, coaches, and general managers around the country and helped recruits with applications, financial aid grants, and campus visits and tours.
 
Burgess has also served as a coach & evaluator for the Minnesota Select 15’s (June 2013-14), as an evaluator for the Great 8 Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) (April 2013-15), and as a coach and evaluator with College Hockey Sweden (July 2014-15). There, he coaches, evaluates, and recruits 16-19 year old European players looking for college and junior hockey opportunities in the United States.
 
A native of Calgary, Alberta, Burgess began his collegiate player at Robert Morris University in 2006 and spent two years in Pennsylvania before transferring to St. Thomas. He was a two-time All-MIAC selection for the Tommies and served as team captain as a senior in 2009-10. Burgess completed his career at St. Thomas with 41 points (20-21-41) in 50 games. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication Journalism (2011) and his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership in 2013. Burgess received both the UST International Leadership Service Award and the Wing Mok International Scholarship Award.

Career Record at Nichols